Devotions

After a time of prayer, Jesus’ disciples asked Him to teach them how to pray. How humbling to sit at the feet of Jesus, hear Him pray, and have the opportunity to gain more wisdom and knowledge from Him as they sought to emulate Jesus in every way—including the way He spoke to His Father.

There is great power in confession and prayer. When we humble ourselves before the Lord and acknowledge (confess) the thoughts and actions in our lives that don’t align with His will, we open ourselves up to being continually changed by Jesus.

In a world filled with uncertainties—relationship tension, political and economic challenges, and conflicts near and far—it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. But amidst the chaos, we can find peace in the unchanging truth that God holds it all.

What does it mean to be faithful in prayer? Prayer is simply speaking with God. It’s an opportunity to reverently come before our holy God, seeking His wisdom and guidance and entering into fellowship with Him.

As we prepare to celebrate Jesus’ resurrection this Easter season, we are reminded of the incredible power of prayer. In 2 Chronicles 7:14, God invites His people to humble themselves, pray, seek His face, and turn from their sinful ways.

As we continue our Lent email series, let’s reflect on this week’s focused topic: prayer. We discussed the vital role of prayer in our relationship with God and unpacked the notion that prayer is part of our foundation of faith.

If ever there was a time in history when the idea of servanthood swam stronger against the tide of culture, it is now. Our world clamours for the satisfaction of self, yet so many times in God’s Word, we are told to be counter-cultural by denying ourselves and putting other’s needs first.

Preferring others, when rooted in and motivated by love, is devoted and honouring. It does not seek to “get one over” or increase the tally of good deeds. It is the decision to elevate someone else’s needs over my own agenda.

As we look toward the cross this season of Lent, let’s examine our hearts and motives inwardly. Are we serving sacrificially? Are we serving where God has called us despite the uncertainty?

Being a servant is a balancing act. We do not want to become doormats to every whim of another, every ministry area, small group, or service. We don’t have to say yes to every request to have a servant spirit.

Lent is a time when we refocus on God as we ready ourselves to celebrate the most incredible story of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection. It reminds us that what we do here in the temporal will fade away and that only the eternal things truly matter.

A servant spirit begins with availability. It’s not about being perfect or having everything figured out—it’s about surrendering our hearts to God and being willing to say yes.